Elevator



Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNHTEB STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEW'LET T. SMITH, F5 OXNARD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO DUNN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFOXNARD, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

ELEVATOR.

- Application filed March 26, 1923.

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HnwLn'r T. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oxnard, in the county of Ventura and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elevators, and more particularly to sucker rod elevators, and has for its object to provide an im proved device of this character for handling pipe, casing, tubing, and particularly sucker rods for pumps and other objects and ad juncts used in the development and operation of oil and other wells. The invention has for particular objects the provision of an improved elevator of the general character stated which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, taken in conjunction with positiveness and effectiveness in action, convenience and facility in operation, reliability and responsiveness in operation and action, and compactness in form, as well as durability and freedom from liability tov getout of order, and which will be generally superior in efiiciency and serviceability.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, combination, association, construction and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of an ele vator constructed to embody the invention, the same being shown as applied to a sucker rod, and a collar or coupling thereon, to support the sucker rod, such elevator being likewise shown as provided with suitable suspension means for supporting the elevator and rod or string of rods;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the improved elevator, a square rod being shown in position in the elevator which is shown closed; 7

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved elevator with the top plate shown in Figure 2 removed, the elevator being shownlikewise closed;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, the elevator being shown open, such opening Serial No. 627,653.

being due to the application of the elevator to a round rod which is shown in section;

Figure 5 is a View similarto Figure 4, the elevator being shown open, but voluntarily opened by latch operating means utilized for that purpose, so that the rod or other object previously accommodated by the elevator may be freed therefrom, or so that the elevator may be freed from such rod or the like; and,

Figure 6 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional View taken upon the line 6-6, Fig. 2, a square rod being shown.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, I have shown at A an elevator, more specifically of the sucker rod type, the same being constructed and organized to embody the invention, and being shown in Figure 1 as applied to a round sucker rod {4, which is likewise shown in Figures 3 and 4, a square rod being shown in position in Figure 2. b designates a collar or coupling upon the rod or rods, for joining together ends of such rods, the collar resting upon the elevator and providing means for supporting or suspending rods by the elevator. B designates suspension means for the elevator and the rods, the same being shown in Figure l as a single bail 7 which is bifurcated and provided with end bearings '7 applied to trunnions 7 at the opposite sides of the body 8 of the elevator. The suspensions means B may be of any preferred type capable of supporting and handling the elevator and the suspended rod or rods.

The body 8 is preferably chambered away in the top portion, as at 8, to accommodate cooperating latch members C and D, each preferably pivoted at one end, as at 9, adjacent one end of the body 8, and at opposite sides and near the outer end of a longitudinal rod-or-work-receiving slot or recess 10, which accommodates the rod or work as the elevator is passed into position in association therewith. These latch members C and D are substantially f-shaped in that they are provided with opposed inwardly directed heads 11, the opposite edge portions 11 of the same being divergently curved in the direction of the outer end of the recess or slot and said heads are likewise provided with further edge portions 11 each of which extends in part transversely oi the slot 10 when said heads are in their closest working relation, to-wit, when the rod or work is received within the inner end of the slot 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Said latch members G and D are likewise provided each with a curved finger 12 extending lengthwise of the latch member, and are so positioned that the heads 11 lie between the same and the end portions 13 of said latch members which are pivoted to the body at 9. These curved fingers 12 are oppositely bent or of opposite arcuate formation, so that when the latch members are in work-retaining or closed relation, said fingers are in substantial contact with the opposite and opposite- 1y outwardly curved edge portions 15 of the body 13 of a latch member operating element E, which comprises likewise a handle portion 14: projecting beyond one end ot the body 8, and connected with the body 13 by a contracted neck portion 14. F designates means exerting a tendency to move the latch members 0 and D into operative position, as shown in Figure 8, wherein they retain the work against relative displacement of the same and the elevator, and serving likewise to hold the latch-operating means in inoperative position, that is, in position so that the latch members are closed, the inward closing of such latch members being limited by engagement of the fingers 12 with the handle member 1 1 neck 1 1" or edge portions 13 of the body 13, or part of all of same; or such inward motion may be limited by engagement of the end of the body 13 with the edge portions 11 of the heads 11 of the latch members. Such means F may exert aspring action, and may consistof bent springs 15 coiled between their ends about respective pins or screws or the like 16, disposed at opposite sides of the fingers 12, and within the recess 8, one end of each such spring 15 bearing upon one of the fingers 12, the other end bearing against a side wall of said recess 8.

The latch members C and D and the latch member operating means E are preferably substantially fiat in formation so as to be capable of operation within the relatively shallow recessor chamber 8. The body 13 of said means E is recessed or chambered as at 13, so as to conform to the formation of the slot or recess 10, at the inner end of the same; and when the latch members are in operative relation such recessed portion 13 substantially coincides or registers with such inner end portion of the slot 10. A cover plate 17 is provided for the body 8 and its chamber 8 and contained parts, the same fitting over said body and contained parts so as to permit free movement of the members C and D and means E, but efi'ectively housing and enclosing the same, with the exception of the projecting portion of the handle member ll of the means E, which handle member plays through an outward extension of the chamber or recess 8. This cover plate may be held in position by screws or other securing devices 18 which are passed through the same and entered into the body 8.

In operation and use the elevator is moved into position to receive and accom modate the rods, tubing, piping or other work, so that the latter enters the slot or recess 10, the cover plate or closure plate 17 being slotted as at 10 to conform and register with the slot or recess 10, such slot 10 being enlarged at the inner or rearward end as at 10 and beveled at that portion so that the collar on the rods may rest directly upon such beveled portion in support 01 the rods or other work, the collar 5 being indicated in full lines in position in Figure 6. Thus the weight of the work is transierred to the body and to the trunnions and suspension means through the cover plate 17.

In so passing the elevator into position to interengage and associate it with the work, the work is progressively accommodated and received by the slot 10 and slot 10*, until the heads 11 are brought into engagement with the work,,at the curved edges 11 thereof, whereupon the latch members C and D are pivotally wedged apart by the work, as clearly indicated in Figure 4:, and the heads 11 finally pass the work and approach each other under influence of the means F, into the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latch members C and D moving toward each other upon their pivotal connections 9. The

work is now imprisoned with the inner extremity of the slots 10 and 10 by the formation of such slot 10 and the heads 11 upon the latch members, which it will be seen antomatically close into positionto confine the work. It is obvious that either a square or round rod, pipe or other object will be accommodated by the slots 10 and 10 and that the elevator may therefore be used for all such kinds and forms of work. The means F readily yield to accommodate the opening ot the body 13 of the means E to wedge apart the fingers 12 0t said latch members, in opposition to the yielding springs 15. This separates the heads 11 of the latch members so that the elevator may be withdrawn from the tub-ing or work, the slots and 10 accommodating such withdrawal.

The latch members C and D open upon application of the elevator to the work, independent of the means E, which are used only to open the said latch members so that the elevator may be withdrawn from the work. It will be observed that the latch members are operated automatically in their opening movements, and that the work is retained by p the latch members against removal or displacement of the elevator until the latch members are voluntarily actuated by the operator to release the work.

It is obvious that many changes and va riations may be made with respect to the construction, use and operation set forth in the foregoing description and illustrated in the drawing, all without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body formed with a chamber and provided with an opening adapted to accommodate work, a latch member confined in the body chamber and disposed adjacent said opening and formed to move in one direction upon contacting with work received within said opening and to move in another direction to retain the work within said opening; said latch member comprising projecting end portions and an intermediate head having edge portions utilized respectively in the actuation of said latch member and in the retention of the work; said latch member being pivotally connected with the body adjacent to one of said end portions.

2. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body provided with an opening adapted to accommodate work, a latch member disposed adjacent said opening and formed to move in one direction upon contacting with work received within said opening and to move in another direction to retain the work within said opening; said latch member comprising projecting end port-ions and an intermediate head having edge portions utilized respectively in the actuation of said latch member and in the retention of the work; said latch member being pivotally connected with the body adjacent to one of said end portions; the other of said end portions being curved, and means being provided cooperating with the curved end portion of the latch member for operating the latch member to release the elevator from the work, and comprising a body slidably mounted in connection with the body of the elevator. v

3. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body provided with an opening adapted to accommodate work, a latch member disposed adjacent said opening and formed to move in one direction upon contacting with work received within said opening and to move in another direction to retain the work within said opening; said latch member comprising projecting end portions and an intermediate head having edge portions utilized respectively in the actuation of said latch member and in the retention of the work; said latch member being pivotally connected with the body adjacent to one of said end portions; the other of said end portions being curved, and means being provided cooperating with the curved end portion of the latch member for oper ating the latch member to release the elevator from the work, and comprising a body slidably mounted in connection with the body of the elevator; said last named body being provided with a handle member.

it. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body provided with an opening adapted to receive and accommodate work, a latch member mounted adjacent said opening and capable of movement upon contact with the work in one direction and in an other direction to retain the work, and means for operating said latch member comprising a slidably mounted body adapted to bear upon said latch member; said slidable body being recessed to register with said opening in said first named body.

5. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body provided with an opening to receive and accommodate work, it'- shaped latch members movably mounted at opposite sides of said opening, the intermediate member of such f-shaped latch members causing the latch members to relatively separate upon contact with work and which act to retain the work after certain movement of said latch members is completed; further means being provided for positively moving said latchmembers each in one direction.

6. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body provided with an open ing to receive and accommodate work, ifshaped latch members movably mounted at opposite sides of said opening, the in termediate member of such f-shaped latch members causing the latch members to relatively separate upon contact with work and which act to retain the work after certain movement of said latch members is completed; means being provided yieldingly urging saidv latch members into positions to retain the work; means likewise being provided for positively moving said latch members each in one direction.

7. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body provided with a worrreceiving recess, a latch pivoted within the body and having a curved arm portion and a head portion, said head portion being adapted to be received within the work-receiving recess, a latch operating member provided with a body havinga curved portion cooperating with the curved arm of the latch to cause movement of the latch to withdraw the head from the work-receiving recess.

8. A device of the character disclosed, comprising a body provided with a Workreceiving recess, a latch pivoted Within the body and having a curved arm portion and a head portion, said head portion being adapted to be received Within the Workreceiving recess, a latch operating member provided with a body having a curved portion cooperating with the curved arm of the latch to cause movement of the latch to Withdraw the head from the Work-receiving recess; said body of the latch operating member being recessed toregister with the Work-receiving recess.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 20 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. I

V HEVVLET T. SLWIITH. lVitnesses W. MARK DURLEY, H. R. STAPLES. 

